Control system



March 26, 1940. w, NESSELL 2,194,986

CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed March 9, 1936 57 WHITE uenrs BLUE LIGHT.

Imvcntor Clurencew esselll Bu z Gnorneg pane Mar. 26,1940

coN'rnoL sys'rnu Clarence W. Nessell, Dayton, Ohio, aslignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, l tiinn a corporation of Delaware iginal application March 9, 1936, Serial'No.

Divided and this application October 31, 1938, Serial No. 237,912

Claims. \(Cl. 172-239) I This invention relates control systems general and this application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 67,818 flied March 9, 1936, for Lighting control system. The prime object of this invention is to provide a control system wherein a plurality of] regulating devices may be each remotely adlusted to any position along with control means for controlling, all of the regulating devices to move them simultaneously to a desired position in such a manner that the regulating" devices all arrive at the "desired position at the sameat the structure for and the manner. of carrying Out the above sequences of operation.

Although the control system of this invention is capable of general use it is disclosed for purposes of illustration as applied to a lighting control system for controlling colors and intensities of lights in a theatre lighting system or the like.

The single sheet of-drawings illustrates diagrammatically the preferred form of this invention. I

For purposes of illustration I have shown diagrammatically resistance type dimmer plates generally designated at III for controlling a lamp load in the form of lights generally designated at II. The lamp loads II' atthe left of the drawmg are designated white lights, and those at the right are designated blue lights. It is within the contemplation of this invention also to vary the lamp loads II by any other means known in the art such as core type reactors equipped with choke coils having D. C. fields, the choking efifect of which may be governed by potentiometer type resistance dimmer plates instead ofthe resistancediminer' plates III disclosed or by reactors in which the core is rotated. These latter types of control of. the lightlng loads are usually used for lighting loads of over 10,000 watts, but for purposes of illustra tion the simplest type is shown in the drawing. The resistance type dimmer plates or the potentiometer type resistance plates for use within core type reactors or the cores themselves may be operated by proportioning motors generally designated at I2. The proportioning motors I2 may in turn be positioned in any number of a plurality of positions by means-.of control potentiometersgenerally designated at I3. Fader potentiometers are designated at It for also controlling the proportioning motors I2 whereby the proportioning motors I2 may be proportionately moved to "01! or on? positions in a specific manner to be pointed out more fully hereafter. The control potentiometer I3 at the left of the drawing controls the white lights II and the control potentiometer I3 at the right of the drawing controlsthe blue lights II and these control potentiometers are so designated. The control of the white lights" and the blue lights by the control potentiometers I3 and the proportioning motors I2 are identical, and therefore like reference characters have been utilized throughout. I

The dimmer plates Ill and the proportioning motors I2 are preferably located adjacent the lamp loads II and the proportioning motors I2 are mechanically connected to the dimmer plates 7 III. The control potentiometers II for controlling the proportioning'motors I2 may be located on a panel board located in some convenient place remote from the proportioning motors I2 and the dimmer plates Ill. The fader potentiometers Il may be located if desired on the same panel board with the. control potentiometers I3.

Line wires leading from some source of power, not shown, are designated at I5 and I6. The line wire li may be connected by a wire H to one end of the resistance I8 of the dimmer plate I0. A slider I9 cooperating with the resistance I8 is connected bya switch 20 and a wire 2| to the lights II forming the lamp load. The lights II are in turn connected by a wire 22 to the other line wire I5. The lights II are locatedin parallel and the resistance I8 is located in series with the lights. It is therefore seen that as the slider I9 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction the light intensities of the lamps II are increasedand when the slider I8 is moved in a clockwise direction the-light intensities of the lamps II are decreased. The slider I9 may be provided with an abutment 23 which is adapted to engage the switch 20 when all of the resistance I8 is placed in circuit with the lamps I I. This abutment 28 is adapted to open the switch 20 to interrupt the supply of current .to the lights II. The light intensities of the lamps II are thus adjusted and when'they are dimmed to a predetermined intensity they may be extin- The sliders |-9 may be rotated by the proportioning motors l2 through the medium of a shaft 25 which may be driven through suitable gearing 26 by a motor shaft 21. The motor shaft 21 is in turn rotated through reduction gearing 28 by motor rotors 29 and 38 upon energization of field windings 3| and 32. rotates a slider 33 with respect to a balancing potentiometer coil 34. The arrangement is such that when the field winding 3| is energized the slider i9 associated with the resistance I8 is rotated in a clockwise direction to dim the lights H and the slider 33 is rotated to the left with respect to the balancing potentiometer coil 34. When the field winding 32 is energized the slider i9 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the resistance l8 to brighten the lamps and the slider 33 is moved to the right with respect to the balancing potentiometer coil 34.

Proportioning motor |2 also includes a relay comprising coils 35 and 36 for operating a core 31 which is suitably connected to a switch arm 38. The switch arm 38 is adapted to cooperate with spaced" contacts 39 and 48. When the relay coil 35 is energized more than the relay coil 36, switch arm 38 is moved into engagement with the contact 39 and when the relay coil 36 is energized more than the relay coil 35 the switch arm 38 is moved into engagement with the contact 48. When the relay coils 35 and 35 are equally energized, or when they are deenergized the switch arm 38 is maintained in a position midway between the contacts 39 and 48 as shown in the drawing. For a further detailed understanding of the proportioning motor |2 reference is made to application Serial No. 673,236 filed by Lewis L. Cunningham onMay 27, 1933.

The contact 39 is connected by wire 4| to one end of the field winding 3| and likewise the contact 48 is connected by a wire 42 to one end of the field winding 32. The switch arm 38 is connected by wires 43 and 44 to the line wire l5 and the junction of the field windings 3| and 32 is connected by wires 45 and 46 to the other line wire 5. When-the switch arm 38 is moved into engagement with the contact 39, a circuit is completed from the line wire l5 through wires 44 and 43, switch arm 38, contact 39, wire 4|, field winding 3| and wires 45 and 46 back to the other line wire |6. Completion of this circuit causes energization of the field winding 3| to dim the lights H in the manner pointed out above. Movement of the switch arm 38 into engagement with the contact 48 completes a circuit from the line wire l5 through wires 44 and 43, switch arm 38,'contact 48, wire 42, field winding 32 and wires 45 and 46 back to the other line wire |6. Completion of this circuit causes energization of the field winding 32 to cause-brightening oi the lights ll. When the switch arm 38 is in the mid-position shown in the drawing, neither field winding 3| or 32 is energized and the slider I8 is maintained in a given position to maintain the light intensities of the lamps H at the adjusted value. Suitable limit switches, not shown, may be provided in the wires 4| and 42 to prevent overtravel of the proportioning motor I2 and consequent overtravel of the slider |9 with respect to the resistance i8.

The control potentiometer generally designated at i3 may comprise a potentiometer coil 41 and a manually operated slider 48 cooperating therewith. Suitable indications may be associated with the slider 48 to indicate the light intensities which the lamps M will assume when The shaft 21 also the slider coincides with certain of the indications. The fader potentiometers |4 may comprise potentiometer coils 49 and sliders 58 cooperating therewith. Preterably the sliders 53 are mounted on a common shaft 5| whereby the sliders 58 of both fader potentiometers I4 are simultaneously rotated. The shaft 5| is shown to be operated by a knob 52, although the shaft 5| may be operated in any suitable manner such as by a timing motor or by a remotely controlled motor similar to proportioning motor |2.

The primary 53 of a step-down transformer 54 having a secondary 55 is connected across the line wires l5 and I6. The secondary 55 is connected to a double pole single throw switch 58. One or the poles ofiswitch 53 is connected by a wire 51 to one end of the relay coil 35. The other pole of theswitch 55 is connected by a wire 58 to one end of the relay coil 35. The left-hand end of the potentiometer coil 41 of the control potentiometer I3 is connected by wire-58 to the wire 51, and likewise the right-hand end of the potentiometer coil 41 is connected by wire 58 to the wire 58. The left-hand end of the potentiometer coil 49 of the fader potentiometer I4 is connected by wire 6| to the wire 51 and likewise the right-hand end of the potentiometer coil 49 is connected by wire 52 to the wire 53. The left-hand end of the balancing potentiometer coil 34 is connected by a protective resistance 63 to the left-hand end of the relay coil 35 and likewise the right-hand end of the balancing potentiometer coil 34 is connected by a protective resistance 84 to the right-hand end of the relay coil 35. In this manner it is seen that the potentiometer coils 41 ot the control potentiometer |3, 49 of the'i'ader potentiometer I4, and 34 of the balancing potentiometer and the relay coils 35 and 36, are all connected in parallel band across the secondary 55 of the step-down transformer 54 when the double pole single throw switch 56 is closed. The slider 48 of the control potentiometer I3 is connected by a wire 65 to the center of the potentiometer coil 48 of the fader potentiometer 4. The slider 58 of the fader potentiometer I4 is connected by a wire 66, a switch 61,'a wire 58 and a resistance 58 to the 'junction of the relay coils 35 and 33. The junctionei the relay coils 35 and 35 is also connected by a .wire 18 to the slider 33 associated with the balancing potentiometer coil 34. When the switch 81, which may be manually operated. is closed and when the slider 53 01' the Iader potentiometer 44 is in the mid position, the slider 48 of the control potentiometer |3, the slider 33 of the balancing potentiometer, and the Junction of the relay coils 35 and 35 are connected together.

Referring now to the upper left-hand portion of the drawing, which relates to the control of the white lights, it is assumed that the parts are in the position shown. Relay coils 35 and 35 are equally energized by reason of the above referred to parallel relationship and by reason of the sliders 33 and 58 being in the mid position with respect to their potentiometer coils. Movement of the slider 48 to the left towards the on" position causes partial short-circuiting or the relay coil 35 to decrease the energization thereof and increase the energization of the relay coil 36. This unbalanced relationship of the relay coils 35 and 36 is afforded by the parallel relationship pointed out above. This unbalanced relationship causes movement of the switch arm 38 into engagement with the contact Movement of the slider "towards the right causes partial short-circuiting of the relay coil 36 to decrease the energization thereof and increase the energization of the relay coil 36, it

being remembered that the relay coil 36 was energized more than the relay coil 35 by reason of the left hand movement of the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3. When the slider 33 has moved sufficiently far to the right to rebalance the energizations of the relay coils 35 and 36 the switch arm 33 is moved out of engagement with the contact 43 to the mid position shown to prevent further counter-clockwise movement of the slider I3 and consequent brightening of the lamps II.

Movement of the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 to the right towards the oil! position causes partial shortcircuiting of the relay coil 36 to decrease the energization thereof and increase the energization of the relay coil 36. This causes movement of the switch arm 33 into engagement with the contact 33 to rotate the slider I9 in a clockwise direction to dim the lights 2| and also to rotate the slider 33 to the left with respect to the balancing potentiometer coil 34. Movement of the slider 33 totthe left with respect to the balancing potentiometer coil 34 causes partial short-clrcuiting of the relay coil 36 to decrease the energization thereof and increase the energization of,.the relay coil 36, it being remembered that the relay coil 36 was energized more than the relay coil 36 by reason-of theright-hand movement of the control slider 43. When the slider 33 has moved sufliciently far tothe left so as to rebalance the energizations of the relay coils 36 and 36 the switch arm 33 is moved out of engagement with the contact 39 to the mid position shown. This stops the further clockwise rotation of the sliderI3 and further dimming of the lights II is thereby prevented.

In this manner the slider I 9 of the dimmer plate I3 may be made to follow the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 whereby the light intensities of the lamps II may be adjusted to any position desired by manually manipulating the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3. When the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 is moved to the complete ofl" position the relay coil 36 is substantially completely shortcircuited and the slider I3 of the dimmer plate I3 is moved to a complete clockwise position to ,open the switch 23 to extinguish the lights I I.

Likewise, movement of the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 to the full on" position, the relay coil 36 is substantially completely short-circuited to move the slider I3 of the dimmer plate I3 to the extreme counter-clockdouble pole'single throw switch 66 may be opened to break the supply of electrical power to the relay coils 35 and 36 of the proportioning motor I2. The proportioning motorl2 and consequently the dimmer plate I3 will remain in this adjusted position, since the switch arm. a is maintained in a mid position with respect to the contacts 33 and 43 when the coils 36 and 36 are deenergized. The slider 43 of the control potentiuneter I3 may be then moved to another position but this will not cause operation of the slider I3 of the dimmer plate I3, since the control circuit is rendered inoperative by reason of the switch 66 being open. In this manner the control potentiometer I3fma'y be preset while the propor tioning motor I2 is maintained in a desired position. When the switch 66 is subsequently closed to again supply electrical power to the control system, the slider I9 of the dimmer plate I3 is rotated to a position to correspond with that of the control slider 43 to readjust the light intensitiesof the lights II. Therefore, the light intensities of the lamps II may be adjusted to one value and maintained at that value while the control slider43 of the control potentiometer I3 is being moved to another position. Subsequently, when the switch 66 is closed the light intensities of the lights I I are then adjusted to the new position according to the new position of the control slider 43. If the switch 66 is maintained closed the light intensities of the lamps 2I may be modulated or faded by slowly rotating the control slider 43.

Opening of the manual switch 61 breaks the connection between the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 and the junction of the relay coils 36 and 36. This prevents the control potentiometer I3 from unbalancing the relay coils 36 and 36 whereby the control potentiometer I3 is rendered ineflective to control the proportioning motor I2. I

The abovedescribed mode of operation, wherein the proportioningmotor I2 and consequently the dimmer plate I3 are positioned in accordance with the positioning of the control potentiometer I3, was predicated on the fact that the sliders 53 of the fader potentiometers I4 were located in the mid position shown in the drawing. This mid position of the sliders 63 connects the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 directly to the junction of the relay coils 35 and 36, whereby the fader potentiometer coils I4 have no effect upon the relay coils 35 and 36. As pointed out above, the fader potentiometers I4 are connected in parallel with the relay coils 36 and 36. By reason of this parallel relationship movement of the slider 63 towards the right from the mid position shown decreases the energization ofthe relay coil 36 and increases the energization of the relay coil 36 in exactly the same manner as does righthand movement of the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3. This right-hand movement of the slider 63 therefore operates the proportioning motor I2 to move the slider I3 of the dimmer plate in aclockwise direction. When the slider 53 is moved to the complete right-hand position the relay coil 36 is substantially completely short-circuited whereby the lights II are extinguished. In this connection it is pointed out that as the slider 53 of the fader potentiometer I4 is moved towards the right from the mid position shown, resistance is added in series with the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3, this resistance being progressivelyplaced in series with the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 and therefore progressively rendering the control potentiometer I3 less effective to control the energizations of the relay coils 3 and 36. Therefore, whatever position the slider 43 of the control potentiometer I3 may assume, movement of the slider 53 of the 'rader potentiometer I4 from the mid position shown in the drawing to the extreme right-hand position causes extinguishment of the lights II.

Conversely, movement of the slider 50 of the fader potentiometer I4 to the left from the mid position shown in the drawing to the complete left-hand position progressively operates the pro portioningmotor E2 to move the slider I9 of the dimmer plate 86 to a complete counter-clockwise position whereby the intensities of the lights H are increased to 100% brilliancy. Left-hand movement-of the slider 50 of theiader potentiometer H also adds'resistancein series with the slider 48 of the control potentiometer I3 to render the control potentiometer I3 progressively less effective to control the proportioning motor l2. Therefore, as the sliders 50 of the fader potentiometers ii are moved from the mid position to either extreme position the control of the proportioning motors i2 is gradually taken away from the control potentiometer I3 and the proportioning motors I2 are operated to either extinguish the lights II or to increase the light intensities thereof to 100%, dependent upon which way the sliders 58 are. moved.

As pointed out above, the sliders 50 of the fader potentiometersv M are connected together for simultaneous movement, whereupon the proportioning motors i2 associated with the respective fader potentiometers I4 are moved to either extreme position depending upon the direction of movement of the sliders 50. As shown in the drawing, the control potentiometer I3 for the white lights is in a mid position and therefore the white lights are at 50% brilliancy. The control potentiometer I3 for the blue lights is in a three-quarters on position whereby the light intensities of the-b1ue lights are substan tially 75%. If the sliders 50 of the fader potentiometers it are moved at a rate slower than the maximumrate of movement of the proportioning motors t2, the proportioning motors I2 will be moved "towards either extreme position and both proportioning motors I2 will arrive at that extreme position at exactly the same time.

Specifically, movement of the sliders 50 towards the right causes movement of the proportioning motors i2 towards the 01? position whereby the lights ii are extinguished and the white lights and the blue lights are extinguished at exactly the same time. Similarly, movement of the sliders 58 towards the left causes operation of the proportioning motors 52 to increase the intensities of the lights to 100%, and the white lights and the blue lights will be adjusted to this ld% brilliancy at exactly the same time. Therefore, it follows that no matter what position the proportioning motors it may be in these proportioning motors may be moved ,to either extreme position under the control of the fader potentiometers l4 and will arrive at these extreme positions at exactly the same time. By reason of this construction true proportionate dimming or brightening of the lights are obtained, whereby accurate blending of the various colors of lights is obtained.

Assume now that the sliders 50 of the fader potentiometers it are in the extreme right-hand position. The proportioning motors I2 are therefore maintained in such position as to maintain the lights li extinguished. The sliders 48 of the control potentiometers I3 may therefore beadjusted to any desired position but the motors I2 will remain in the off position. Movement of the sliders so from the extreme right-hand position to the mid position'shown in the drawing gradually places the control of the proportioning motors I2 under the control of their respective control potentiometers I3, and 'when the sliders 50 are finally moved to the mid position shown in the drawing the proportioning motors I2 will assume positions corresponding to the positions of their respective control potentiometers I3, and if the sliders 50 of the fader potentiometers I4 are moved at a rate slower than the maximum speed of the proportioning motors I2, the proportioning motors I2 will arrive at their desired positions at exactly; the same time. In this manner the lights may be brightened in a proportionate manner from an off" condition to a desired condition and the rateof travel of the proportioning motors I2 is so controlled that the proportioning motors I2 willarrive at their desired positions at exactly the same time. By use of the above construction true proportionate dimming and true proportionate brightening of the various lights are obtained.

Generally speaking, the maximum electrical capacity of a single dimmer plate is about 3600 watts. It may be desired to control a lamp load greater than 3600 watts from a single control potentiometer ,II. This may be accomplished in two ways: One, by using the core type reactor for controlling the lamp load as pointed out above, or, two, by using a plurality of resistance type dimmer plates, and this latter method is disclosed in the drawing. The lighting load, designated as white lights," may be split up into two loads ,II and H, the load II being controlled by the resistance type dimmer plate III in the manner pointed out above, and the load I I being controlled by the resistance type dimmer plate I0. The dimmer plate I0 may be controlled by another proportioning motor I2, the construction of which is identical with that of I2. The motor I2 may be supplied with power from the line wires I5 and I6 by wires 43', 43 and H and 45, 45 and 46. The relay coils 35 and 36' may be connected to the control potentiometer 13 by wires 51', 58 and 68 in the same'manner that the relay coils 35 and 36 of the proportioning motor 52 are connected thereto. The resistances B9 and S9 in the proportioning motors l2 and I2 are provided so that the two proportioning motors i2 and 12 will operate identically in response to movement of the control slider 48 i of the control potentiometer 13, or in response to the slider 50 of the fader potentiometer H. The specific manner in which this mode of operation is accomplished is set forth in United States Patent No. 2,114,704 granted to Lewis L.

Cunningham and myself on April 19, 1938. By reason of this construction a single control potentiometer identically positions two or more resistance type dimmer plates. Like elements of the proportioning motor i2 have been designated by like reference characters primed so that the operation of the proportioning motor I2 may be easily followed upon reference to the operation of the proportioning motor I2.

Although for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and therefore this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a control system, the combination of a motor for performing a function, a balanced relay for'operating said motor comprising series connected coils, two resistances connected in parallel with said series connected coils, and a slider for each resistance, the slider of one resistance being connected to a center tap of the other resistance, and the slider of the other resistance being connected to the junction of the series connected coils whereby the balanced relay is operated to operate the motor.

2. In a control system, the combination of a motor for performing a function, switching mechanism for operating said motor, series connected coils for operating said switching mechanism, two control resistances connected in parallel with said series connected coils, a slider for each resistance, the slider of one resistance being connected substantially to the center of the other resistance and the slider of the other resistance being connected between the series connected coils whereby the switching mechanism is operated to operatesaid motor, and means operated by said motor for operating the switching mechanism to stop operation of the motor.

3. In a control system, the combination of a motor for performing a function, switching mechanism for operating said motor, series connected coils for operating said switching mechanism, two control resistancesconnected in parallel with said series connected coils, a slider for each resistance, the slider of one resistance being connected substantially to the center of the other resistance and the slider of the other resistance being connected between the series connected coils, another resistance connected in parallel with said series connected coils, and a slider cooperating therewith and operated by said motor, the slider being connected between the series connected coils.

4. In a control system, the combination of a plurality of motors, switching mechanism for each motor for controlling the operation thereof, series connected coils for operating each switching mechanism, at least two resistances connected in parallel with the series connected coils of each switching mechanism, a slider for each resistance, the slider of one resistance being connected substantially to the center of another resistance and the slider of the other resistance being connected between the series connected coils whereby each series connected coils are controlled by its associated resistances, and means for simultaneously operating the second mentioned sliders.

5. In a control system, the combination of a plurality of motors, switching mechanism for each motor for controlling the operation thereof, series connected coils for operating each switching mechanism, at least two resistances connected in parallel with the series connected coils of each switching mechanism, a slider for each resistance, the slider 01' one resistance being connected substantially to the center of another resistance and the slider of the other resistance being connected between the series connected coils, another resistance connected in parallel with each series connected coils, a slider cooperating therewith and connected'between its associated series connected coils, means for operating the last mentioned sliders upon operation of their respective motors, and means for simultaneously operating the second mentioned sliders.

CLARENCE W. NESSELL. 

